FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
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the Tripoli caravan ; the people of the caravan of F ezzan not 
rendering them any assistance, and always encamping out of gun- 
shot distance from them. Next they were attacked in the Tibbo 
country, where the people of the Fezzan caravan assisted the 
Tibbos against them ; but Mukni again overcame them, and ar- 
rived at Mourzouk. Here the gates were shut against him, and 
every person was forbid to provide him or his people with pro- 
visions, or hold any communication with him, on pain of death. 
Notwithstanding all these orders, they were supplied by their 
friends inside the town, principally the cadi, who used to send 
them out provisions on asses, as if laden with manure. After this, 
it was eighteen months before the bashaw would grant Mukni a 
force to depose the governor of Fezzan. 
Sunday, 20th. — This morning the whole city was thrown into 
considerable alarm by a merchant from Ghadamis being found 
strangled in his bed. His female slaves were suspected of being 
guilty of the murder, as two or three similar cases had happened 
before. The governor of Kano sent to Iiadje Salah, as chief of the 
Arabs, to know what he would have done on the occasion ; whether 
the slaves should be sold out of the country, or whether they should 
be put to death. It had been customary, in cases of this kind, to 
send the perpetrators of similar crimes to the sea-coast, to be sold 
to the slave-dealers. Hadje Salah and the principal Arabs came to 
my house before they went to the govern or, to ask my advice on 
the occasion, and to know what we should do if such a thing were 
to happen in England. I told them, that all the slaves would be 
confined separately, and strictly examined, and that if the fact was 
proved, all those concerned would be hanged — not one would 
escape. They said that was the proper way, and that no man would 
be safe in Kano if they were to escape. I took this opportunity of 
asking them how many slaves there were in Kano in proportion to 
free men ; they said, about thirty slaves to every free man. I told 
